Moderator Robert Tyndale discusses understanding Black History and present reality with Tomi Ajele, Greg Frankson and Adora Nwofor.

Greg Frankson  A. Gregory (Greg) Frankson, OCT, B.Ed. is the founder and CEO of Voice Share Inc., which provides training, presentation, coaching/mentorship, and consulting services focused on transformative organizational change through inclusive leadership and effective communication. Prior to creating Voice Share in 2018, Greg was a teacher, arts educator, event producer, corporate trainer, and anti-discrimination facilitator.  Throughout his career, Greg has used his voice to create social change as an advocate, award-winning literary artist, and media commentator. Artistically, he published four poetry collections, contributed to three anthologies, edited AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets (2022), and released four studio audio recordings, among many other achievements.

Tomi Ajele is the Editor-In-Chief at Afros In Tha City – a media collective dedicated to amplifying Black voices in Mohkínstsis/Calgary. Her work has also been published in The Huffington Post, CBC, ByBlacks, Avenue Magazine, and The Sprawl. Tomi is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy and hopes to continue to use her voice to advocate for an anti-oppressive tomorrow.

Adora Nwofor aka Statuesse  Adora Nwofor aka Statuesse is your typical everyday awkward Amazon Goddess next door. She leads with grace and humour even when not intended. Comedian and host, she is all well rounded and a 2020 Calgary Herald Compelling Calgarian making an impact on Turtle Island. From co-producing and styling community content with Shaw Cable, hosting events like Folkfest, Cariwest, and Reggaefest, to making folx jaws drop with comedy at Nubian Disciples, your local Comedy Club. or Gogo Battles, she isn’t afraid to tell THE edgy story you needed. A people lover, getting a look into new communities is her newest adventure, Living a creative life on Youtube tells how people have continued to express themselves despite a pandemic. That’s not all; there’s also public speaking (at U of C, Mount Royal, and Capilano University in the past year), activism (you saw 2020 but she has been on it), wardrobe styling, and modelling in the YYC, all like she’s having a party. Maybe she IS the party!  

MODERATED BY:  Robert Tyndale (Bobby T)  Robert “bobby.t” Tyndale is a digital marketer that believes that people connect through stories. Robert runs a small content production agency called Version Me Media, working with different businesses across Edmonton. He spends his downtime working his Youtube channel and podcast interviewing, reflecting, and talking about things he finds interesting. Focused on engaging the Black community, Robert is a co-founder of a local Black publication Melanistic Magazine and a board member of the Federation of Black Canadians and Jamaican Association of Northern Alberta. Seeing a gap in the social space, Robert started a new tech startup called Return on Colour – focusing on interconnecting Black Canadians across the country through a directory highlighting Black professionals, organizations, businesses, freelancers, and organizations.

Find out more about thestride.ca  and Ladiescorner.ca

Mr. Akinkunmi John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Ibadan and an MBA from the Business School, Netherlands (with distinction in dissertation). In the course of service in the private sector, he underwent several trainings and certification courses in Management, Leadership and Marketing. He is a professional in Marketing and Management with experience spanning several years in Commercial Banking and Credit Analysis in the banking industry.

Mr. Akinkunmi John is the Founder and Managing Director of Goldbridge Foods Limited, a company that specializes in the processing of easy-to-prepare indigenous packaged foods. Goldbridge Foods Limited is the promoter of food products under the brand name “Laba”. “Laba” as the name connotes represents originality, freshness, and naturalness. The company’s aim is to minimize the turnaround time in preparing meals, provide foods that are devoid of toxic chemicals and in naturally preserved forms (fresh- close to organic foods), and bridge the gap in the supply of healthy and highly nutritional foods to the Nigerian populaces and other African consumers, as well as provide business and employment opportunities to people. Currently, the company’s products include unripe plantain flour, bean flour, corn flour, garri, instant pounded yam flour, bean flour, rice flour, and smoked catfish. More products are in the offing.

His vision is to be a catalyst of positive impact in the business world, community, and the world. His mission is to inspire, help the helpless, and give hope to the hopeless in society.

Mr. Akinkunmi John is happily married and blessed with a daughter and a son.

Rochelle Ignacio (she/her) is a safety and inclusion specialist who is passionate about equity, diversity and inclusion. She has a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology from the University of Alberta with a major in Family Ecology and minor in Community Diversity, as well as an Occupational Health and Safety Certificate. She strongly believes in community building, volunteerism, and advocating for underrepresented individuals and groups of people.

Rochelle is the CEO and Founder of Enid Rose Collective which houses her personal portfolio and consultative services. Through Enid Rose Collective Rochelle customizes service offerings to fit the needs of her clients.

Rochelle also acts as the Operations Business Officer and Co-Founder of Black-Owned Market Edmonton (BOM YEG) which is a volunteer collective whose aim is to uplift Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs and creatives.

Rochelle is the recipient of Edify Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 awards (2021) as well as the African Caribbean Community Leader of the Year award (2020).

For more information regarding Rochelle's portfolio check out enidrosecollective.com / bomyeg.ca / LinkedIn Profile.

She joined Tee to talk about Black Futures Market at the Art Gallery of Alberta on February 5th and 6th. For more information, please visit: www.bomyeg.ca

To find out more about LCCMedia and their work, please visit: www.ladiescorner.ca

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 and set out a blueprint for achieving peace and prosperity for people and the planet by the year 2030. They recognize that ending poverty and inequality goes hand-in-hand with protecting the environment and building the economy.

International Week 2022 focuses on what our local and global community members are doing to help us achieve these challenging goals.

Alicia Richins is a sustainability and social impact consultant with a global outlook and expertise in ecological economics. She has a deep understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and works to translate them to the local level. During this keynote address, she will get you thinking about climate resilience, climate justice, climate action and, specifically, how the expansion of solar energy both at home and abroad relates to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Register here: https://solaralberta.ca/event/solar-show-keynote-solar-energy-and-the-sustainable-development-goals/

To find out more about Conversations with Tee, please visit: www.ladiescorner.ca

Stacey Leavitt-Wright is the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton. She joined us to talk about The Shine a Light on Antisemitism mosaic art piece unveiled last week.  You can view the complete mosaic on their website and explore it interactively. https://bit.ly/ShineALightOn

They have a Holocaust museum exhibit at the downtown Stanley A. Milner Library, which opens this Friday and is on display until January 30. Thank you to Edmonton Public Library for hosting this exhibit from the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem.

The final event is a free virtual conversation with Ben M Freeman about the history of Jew-hate on January 27 at 7 p.m. This program is in partnership with Calgary Jewish Federation, Calgary Public Library, and Edmonton Public Library. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3tDcjb3.

For more information about Conversations with Tee, please visit: www.ladiescorner.ca

She is an entrepreneur and the owner of Glow Edmonton. She joined Tee to talk about trading in the pandemic and more. If there is anything about Shannon, she walks on water. Her faith is empowering and daring. It is most certain, if you want Shannon's outcomes, you have to take Shannon's steps. 

Enjoy listening! 

To find out more,  please visit: www.ladiescorner.ca

Angeline Marie Letourneau is Ph.D. Student in Environmental Sociology with social media. She is also a speaker at the University of Alberta's International Week. Her talk is titled: Examining the Roots of Climate Change Denial and Reimagining the Tree.

Angeline is a third-year Ph.D. student in Environmental Sociology. Angeline has a background in environmental studies and has extensive work experience in the industry and non-profit organizations in Canada and Germany. These experiences have shaped her ongoing research interests in how gendered identities operate in energy and agri-food systems. Her current thesis explores the interplay between the identities of Albertan oil workers and their resistance to climate change action. Angeline’s other research interests include theoretical understandings and applications of queer ecology and green criminology, social impact assessments, and the relationship between social media and identity. Her work centers on decolonial and intersectional feminist lenses and, she prioritizes social justice in all of her work.

She joined Tee to talk about International Week and how climate change denial affects us all. 

Find out more about Ladiescorner.ca here.

She is a communicator and on the communications team of Protect our Province. She joins Tee to talk about protecting our Province's value to Alberta. For more information about Pop Alberta, please visit: www.popab.ca

Conversations with Tee is brought to you by LCCMedia. You can find out more about us here: www.ladiescorner.ca

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